Riding a horse to lose

Carries a five year suspension in the UK

DARREN EGAN, who was disqualified from racing in Britain by the BHA this week, has insisted he did not stop any horses from winning and will attempt to restart his career in America.

Egan was considered one of the most promising apprentices on the Flat, riding 47 winners in 2012 before a broken collarbone curtailed his chances of winning the apprentice title.

But the 23-year-old's career stalled the following season amid issues surrounding his licence and he only rode 22 winners before heading to America in 2013.

In July it emerged he was facing corruption charges relating to a period of rides between June and July in 2013 and he has subsequently been found guilty of riding horses to lose, a charge which carries with it a minimum suspension of five years.

'I rode exactly to the instructions'

Egan, speaking in an interview with The Sun, denies he prevented Imperial Spirit (Chepstow, July 12) and Tregererth (Bath, July 16) from winning, and said: "I have never stopped a horse during my riding career. The two horses I was accused of stopping had never won a race before.

"I rode exactly to the instructions I was given on both horses and the trainers were 100 per cent happy with the rides."

The BHA is yet to publish its reasons for finding Egan guilty, but the jockey will try and ride again in America if possible.

He added: "I've a long road ahead of me. I will try to ride in the USA. I don't know if they are going to let me. They will look at the case when all the findings have been made."

Former jockey Darren
Egan banned for 12 years
BY MARK SCULLY 2:30PM 8 FEB 2016

DARREN EGAN has been banned from racing for 12 years after participating in "a conspiracy which struck at the heart of the sport" the BHA said on Monday.

The former apprentice was found to have been involved in a tangled conspiracy with gambler Philip Langford with the jockey ensuring two horses did not run on their merits enabling Langford to profit from lay betting on Betfair.

Egan was guilty of breaching rules related to corrupt and fraudulent practice and failing to ride a horse on its merits between June 17, 2013 and July 16, 2013.

Announcing its penalties on Monday, the BHA said Egan and Langford had made considerable profits from their activities. By the time the latter's Betfair account was suspended, he had risked £838,870 and made an overall profit £53,560.

The BHA said: "This was a conspiracy which struck at the heart of the sport, which both took considerable steps to conceal, which made substantial corrupt profits, and which furthermore involved on two occasions stopping rides by Egan to protect the success of Mr Langford's lay betting.

"It was a conspiracy which only came to a practical end (i.e. in its effect upon races) when Betfair recognised Mr Langford's unusual betting patterns."

'I needed the money'

In explaining the severity of Egan's ban, the BHA said there were no mitigating factors that could justify a reduction in the penalty, despite the fact the disciplinary panel noted Egan's young age, his inexperienced status and the fact the conspiracy was initiated by Langford.

Egan himself explained in an email last November that he understood what he was doing was wrong, but added: "I needed the money desperately."

The panel also confirmed it had imposed no separate penalty for Egan's breach of the rules regarding the supply of inside information, as that conduct was considered and penalised as part of his ban.

Egan had been considered one of the country's most promising apprentices prior to his fall from grace, having ridden 47 winners in 2012 before a broken collarbone ended his hopes of winning the apprentice title.

Is there any oversight to ensure that the practice is not more widespread ?? Poor runs are often put down to the whims of the horse on the day...but that cannot be the case in the majority of cases as is generally accepted / explained away ?? !!

Yup look how easy it is to accept a trainer comment when he says the " jockey felt something"

I think (stand under correction) the JC/NHA can only pursue and charge if they can prove there was profiteering involved. Such as the Betfair disclosure of irregular betting patterns.
Other than that press on under the usual clauses 'not riding out' which is only penalty?
Anyone with more in-depth knowledge care to comment pls?

Have a look at Strikers ride on Divar tonight. My 12 yr old dog would have been more vigorous....bear in mind all I am a Striker fan..... And did not back Divar....

Have a look peoples.... Was never a tryer.